Chapter 145
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Sage's Honey Wine
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At a glance, it was clear that the Philosopher's Stone would fetch a high price.
The special power of the Golden Rock Queen Bee, born from using that very stone as an evolution material.
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[Golden Rock Queen's Golden Pollen (★★★+)]
* Classification: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption, all stats increase by 3 for 5 minutes, and movement speed increases by 50%. (Cooldown: 5 minutes)
* Effect - Wealth of the Golden Pollen (Passive): Consuming Golden Pollen 10 times, regardless of grade or type, grants the Authority Specialization 'Wealth of the Golden Pollen'.
※ Aura of Golden Pollen: Increases the amount of coins acquired by an additional 1%.
* Description: This is the ★★★+ grade Golden Pollen from the Golden Rock Queen. A healthy energy has been condensed into one place. It can be processed in various ways, and consuming a large amount seems to bestow the aura of wealth.
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Among them, of course, was the Golden Rock Queen's Golden Pollen, which I had already known about.
While it didn't offer a permanent stat increase, its consumption effect boasted a rather useful buff for a duration of five minutes.
Moreover, much like the antlers of the Blue Antler Tribe, consuming a large amount of the golden pollen also granted an Authority.
It wasn't a concept like stat enhancement.
It was a rather unique effect: a 1% bonus to coin acquisition.
For some, it might just mean earning one extra coin for every hundred, but its value depended entirely on who it was applied to.
And who were the residents of this bee farm?
From Seong-hyeok, who could easily subdue Disaster-class threats, to the more than ten thousand residents.
If this Authority were granted to all of them, it would be like adding 1% to the massive total they earned.
Furthermore, unlike the blue antlers, which were difficult to secure in large quantities, the sources of golden pollen were plentiful.
Whiiing~
Bzzzzz- Bzz-bzz-bzz-!!!
"You guys really give me strength."
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[Fragrant Poison Golden Pollen (Lv.2)]
* Classification: Skill
* Mana Cost: 0
* Effect (Passive): Excretes 1-2 Fragrant Poison Golden Pollens every hour.
[Herbal Grass Golden Pollen (Lv.3)]
* Effect (Passive): Excretes 1-3 Herbal Grass Golden Pollens every hour.
…….
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The sources were none other than the superior species of bees born from the Golden Rock Queen Bee.
Thanks to the golden pollen produced by these bees, hundreds of which were born daily, there was more than enough to manifest the Authority!
Especially the Fragrant Poison and Herbal Grass.
As distinctly different superior bee species, the golden pollen obtained from them boasted exceptional effects in cooking and alchemy, respectively.
But did another feel jealous of how these unique superior bees were enriching the farm?
Bzzzzz!
As if declaring it wouldn't be outdone.
A single bee flew in.
Its appearance was, once again, not just unique but truly fascinating.
Wheee~
Similar to Dongchung-i, which had a mushroom on its head and back, this one had an herb growing on it.
Needless to say, this was no ordinary superior bee, but an elite bee, a step above.
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[Golden Rock Sage's Fragrant Herb Legion Commander Bee (★★★★)] - Elite Bee
* Skills: Foraging (Lv.8), Poison Sting (Lv.5), Flight (Lv.10), Legion Commander's Command (Lv.4), Sage's Fragrant Herb Carapace (Lv.4), Sage's Golden Pollen (Lv.5)
* Honey Storage: 0 / 680(+110)
* Health: 1,550(+650) Mana: 1,520(+630)
* Attack: 50(+12) Defense: 350(+90) Magic Resistance: 350(+90)
[Sage's Fragrant Herb Carapace (Lv.4)]
* Classification: Skill
* Mana Cost: 0
* Effect (Passive): Dramatically increases defense, and a Sage's Fragrant Herb grows every 7 days.
* Effect - Sage's Herb (Passive): When the Sage's Fragrant Herb is fully grown, all stats increase by 40%. This effect does not apply while the herb is growing.
[Sage's Fragrant Herb Golden Pollen (Lv.5)]
* Effect (Passive): Excretes 3-6 Sage's Fragrant Herb Golden Pollens every hour.
…….
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Indeed, befitting an elite bee, Hyanggeus-i's effects boasted outstanding stats and an abundance of skills.
But the golden pollen wasn't the only thing to note about it.
[You have acquired Golden Rock Sage's Fragrant Herb (★★★★)!]
[The effect of Sage's Herb will be temporarily lost.]
[The Sage's Fragrant Herb must grow back completely before it can be harvested again.]
Unlike the cordyceps, which could only be obtained upon death, Hyanggeus-i's herb could be harvested anytime, given enough time.
Well, the seven-day cooldown and the temporary deactivation of the passive that boosted all stats by a whopping 40% were a shame, but what could you do?
"I can't stand not knowing."
[The Transcendent Being, the Mad Inquirer, nods in agreement, finding it only natural.]
Humans and curiosity were an inseparable pair, after all.
Besides, didn't Seong-hyeok have the karma of a Mad Inquirer?
True to that mad karma, which demanded he see things through to the end once he started investigating, Seong-hyeok checked the effects of the harvested herb.
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[Golden Rock Sage's Fragrant Herb (★★★★)]
* Classification: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption, all stats increase by 10% for 15 minutes. (Cooldown: 300 minutes)
* Effect - Sage's Aroma (Passive): The cooldowns of all held skills are reduced by 20%.
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"...This is incredible."
Not a flat value, but a percentage increase.
For Seong-hyeok, whose total stats were already high due to the 'Honeybee Product Aficionado' effect, it was no exaggeration to say this was like giving him wings.
And was that all?
'If it's all skills, that means it applies to non-combat ones too, right?'
Seong-hyeok possessed martial prowess second to none in the world, but at his core, he was a beekeeper.
Things like beehive crafting or queen bee capturing.
Depending on how it was used, the effect held more than enough limitless potential!
"Well, now. I'm already looking forward to this."
And most importantly, the Sage's Fragrant Herb was an item that was a 'material' before it was a 'consumable'.
The Honeybee Guardian and the Mad Inquirer.
It was more than enough to stir the heart of this hybrid, a mix of two karmas.
* * * * *
Crafting an item using a high-grade, 4-star material.
On top of that, having only one of said material should have been a huge penalty.
For an ordinary person, it would have been an incredibly daunting task. But who was Seong-hyeok?
A crafting fanatic who produced thousands of honey products a day using the byproducts of honey aged by his bees.
Naturally, the tremors he felt from crafting were closer to excitement than fear.
"I have plenty of materials to work with."
The World Tree Honey, a perfect match for the Sage's Fragrant Herb, along with various other wild honeys.
And even royal jelly and propolis.
Without a moment's hesitation, Seong-hyeok gathered and mixed them all together.
'This much of this one. Just about 2% of that one...'
Countless experiences, and the knowledge of bees he had accumulated long before.
Seong-hyeok's ratio calculations were a collaboration of these factors.
Added to this were his high agility and control, allowing his hands to move at a speed difficult to follow with the naked eye.
If anyone had seen it, they would have considered Seong-hyeok's handiwork not just amazing, but a waste of talent.
[The Transcendent Being, the Mad Inquirer, stares with bloodshot eyes. 'More! More!' it screams, sponsoring 100,000 coins.]
[The Transcendent Being, the Insect Queen, coaxes them to get a grip.]
[The Transcendent Being, the Patient One, shakes their head, saying it's already too late.]
…….
It was to the point where even the Transcendent Beings had to acknowledge it!
It wasn't intentional, but the taste of sponsorship was sweet.
And perhaps the encouragement from these reliable patrons really did have an effect.
Seong-hyeok, feeling even more energized, immersed himself in crafting and finally finished.
[Sage's Fragrant Herb Samcheong (三淸) Honey Wine crafting is a Great Success! The Honeybee Guardian's blessing is engraved upon the Samcheong Honey Wine.]
[Guardian's Sage's Fragrant Herb Samcheong (三淸) Honey Wine (★★★★★) has been crafted.]
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[Guardian's Sage's Fragrant Herb Samcheong (三淸) Honey Wine (★★★★★)]
※ Remaining aging period: 10 days (When aging is complete, the taste and effects will be dramatically enhanced.)
* Classification: Consumable
* Upon consumption, various beneficial effects and 'Sage's Complete Aroma' are applied to the individual. Permanently increases Mental Strength by 25, up to 3 times. Current consumption: 0 / 3
※ Sage's Aroma: For 30 minutes, all stats increase by 30%, and the cooldowns of all held skills are reduced by 30%. (Cooldown: 120 minutes)
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"Very good. This is a top-quality product, indeed."
A highly satisfying 5-star grade crafted item.
Seokcheong and Mokcheong.
And even Tocheong.
Was it thanks to the effect of the Sage's Fragrant Herb blended with three types of wild honey, each with its own distinct flavor?
"Wow, this smells amazing."
A fragrant aroma, as if it were something only the immortals would consume.
And since it was drenched in sweet wild honey, he knew what it would taste like without even having a sip!
Whiiing~
Wheeeeeeeng~
A few bees, drawn by the sweet scent.
Was that the look of a will determined to eat?
Seong-hyeok usually wanted to grant his bees whatever they desired, but this time was an exception.
"Be patient for now, little ones. It'll become delicious after a little while."
The most significant characteristic of honey wine: 'aging'.
Especially since various types were added, the taste upon completion was bound to be exquisite.
But perhaps because they received Seong-hyeok's message through the Bee Link?
Whiiing…….
Their bottoms twitched in disappointment.
Seeing the pitiful, slightly droopy bees, Seong-hyeok quickly interjected.
"Don't worry. Once it's all aged, I won't forget to let you all have a sip. Got it?"
Whiiing!
Wheeeeeing~!
At his promise that they could have some later, the bees perked up their bottoms like rabbit ears and performed a dance of joy.
The revitalized bees returned to work, happily shaking their rears to the beat.
But could the innocent bees have possibly known?
'Sorry, kids, but this one's for Daddy.'
The wild honey he could never easily part with.
The fact that this concoction, blended with three types of it and infused with the Sage's Fragrant Herb, was destined 100% for his mouth alone.
Sometimes, a white lie is necessary.
* * * * *
Honey wine, honey preserves, and the like.
Honey products that generally required a significant amount of time to achieve their perfect taste.
But as they say, the aesthetics of waiting are endless.
The charm of aging had arrived at the bee farm.
And there was one more thing added, thanks to the bees' natural processes.
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[Honey Strawberry Natural Aging (Lv.2)]
* Classification: Skill
* Mana Cost: 0
* Effect (Passive): Naturally ages and ferments fully grown Honey Strawberries.
* Effect - Resonance Application (Passive): Grants this aging method to Garnet Gem worker bees within a 200km radius.
* Description: Applies a superior, high-quality aging to Honey Strawberries through the bees' unique natural process. As the level increases, it rapidly produces a richer fermentation and shares the aging method with worker bees over a wider area.
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It was none other than the Garnet Gem Honey Bush Legion Commander Bee, which had just learned a new skill.
Namely, Deombur-i's Honey Strawberry Natural Aging.
Honestly, when it came to aging, Seong-hyeok, who had walked the path of the bee for 24 years, was confident, but did he have to take a step back for the bees, the true masters?
Whiiing~
One of the Deombur-i approached Seong-hyeok.
As if to show off.
It offered Seong-hyeok a piece of red residue.
To an uninformed observer, it might have looked like food waste.
But there was no way the bees would offer him something like that, was there?
"This is, don't tell me...?"
A fragrant scent that was in no way inferior, even when compared to the Sage's Fragrant Herb Samcheong Honey Wine he had just made.
Needless to say, the identity of this residue, which gave off such a sweet smell, was obvious.